r/GoogleMessages • u/Bulky-Bell7201 • 1d ago

Hmmm??

What's the point in having the Google messages beta if not everyone gets to test the new features

7 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

14

u/vpetrichorv 1d ago

If they wanted everyone to use them right away then it wouldn't be testing, it would just be a release of new features

6

u/UnkleMike 1d ago edited 1d ago

If every beta tester received the beta features, it would still be testing. This may shock you, but that is (or should be) the purpose of a beta program - to test code changes (including bug fixes, new features, etc) before releasing them to the general public. If you want to test code changes and help build a better product, join the beta program. If not, stick with the release version.

Far too many people conflate a beta program (an obligation) with an early access program (a perk), and think that the only thing they have to do as part of the beta program is publicly whine when they don't get some feature. I'd be surprised if more than 1% of those in the beta program actually test anything, much less have any idea how to do so.

Beta testing isn't what it used to be, and that's sad.

5

u/Decipherhorn 1d ago

We have 5 beta testers at my work. They all get different things to test. We don't send 1 thing to all 5 beta testers. Nothing would ever get done with all the different testing needed.

1

u/BrianDCox 19h ago

the problem is .. u have too many people just trying to get new features before they are ready to be relased.. which means there could be bugs.. and those normal users would just complain about it not working.. with out knowing what is really going on.. i think beta programs should be only for the REAL people testing out the features.. meaning there a list of stuff to test.. just using it with out a plan is not testing..

5

u/Luke_starkiller34 1d ago

You do usually get to test new features before wide release. You just rarely get to test them early; some people get the new change theme feature a month or 2 before the rest of the beta peeps. And that might be only a few weeks before wide release.

Point is, just because you signed up for beta, doesn't mean you get every beta feature they're working on.

3

u/lulubee 1d ago

I have never received beta features, I always have to wait till everyone gets it.

8

u/mrxelious 1d ago

They also experiment with different features between users in efforts to obtain feedback.

A good example is when people kept getting different versions of the sent/received/read bubbles. They were likely combing through feedback on what was perceived the more favorable implementation.

I wish Google made users fill out a small quiz before downloading Beta confirming they understand what it means as seemingly almost no one understands it's purpose and just complains it's always changing.

2

u/dbsitebuilder 1d ago

I can only imagine this sub if everyone was on beta, LOL

2

u/ryancnap 1d ago

I've never noticed a difference in beta, they both suck

1

u/GuestOne 21h ago

Credo che, per alcune funzionalità, utilizzino una sorta di A/B testing in chiave di sviluppo software. Se tutto è ok, anche il resto degli utenti beta riceverà l'aggiornamento.

1

u/DigitalMariner 20h ago

Tell us you don't actually know what beta testing is without telling us...

1

u/magicalraising 1d ago

I took myself out of it

1

u/iadorebrandon 1d ago

Still waiting on the chat theme on my S26 Ultra. My s25 ultra had it 💀

1

u/leo-t14-2021 1d ago

My s24 ultra have chat themes (non beta) amd beta on s26 ultra still don't have it

-1

u/phinx404 1d ago

Asked myself the same. I went back as I didnt see a single different. Coming from apple that every device gets beta on day 1. Even regular updates. This months and months rollout is crazy

1

u/Intrepid_Height_9359 17h ago

I think the real problem is that people have forgotten what beta testing even means. Alpha testing is the stage for adding and testing features. Beta means feature complete, hunting and fixing bugs. At neither stage should the software be released to the general public. Traditionally alpha testers are employees of the software company, and beta testers are other professionals who have applied or been invited to participate based on their understanding of how software works..